before
preposition /bɪˈfɔː(r)/
/bɪˈfɔːr/
- earlier than somebody/something
在…以前 - before lunch
午餐前 - the day before yesterday
前天 - The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver.
他前年得了一枚金牌，大前年得了一枚银牌。 - She's lived there since before the war.
她从战前起就一直住在那里。 - He arrived before me.
他比我先到。 - She became a lawyer as her father had before her.
像她父亲先前一样，她成了一名律师。 - Leave your keys at reception before departure.
离开前请把钥匙留在服务台。 - Something ought to have been done before now.
先前就该采取措施了。 - We'll know before long (= soon).
我们很快就会知道了。 - Turn left just before (= before you reach) the bank.
在快到银行时向左拐。
- before lunch
- used to say that somebody/something is ahead of somebody/something in an order or arrangement
（次序或排列）在前面 - Your name is before mine on the list.
名单上你的名字在我之前。 - He puts his work before everything (= regards it as more important than anything else).
他一切以工作为重。
- Your name is before mine on the list.
- (rather formal) used to say that somebody/something is in a position in front of somebody/something
在…面前（或前面） - They knelt before the throne.
他们跪在御座前。 - Before you is a list of the points we have to discuss.
放在你面前的是一份我们所要讨论的要点清单。
- They knelt before the throne.
- used to say that something is facing somebody in the future
（表示面临或临近） - The task before us is a daunting one.
我们所面临的任务令人生畏。 - The whole summer lay before me.
整个夏季正等待着我。
- The task before us is a daunting one.
- in the presence of somebody who is listening, watching, etc.
当面 - He was brought before the judge.
他被带上法庭。 - She said it before witnesses.
她当着证人的面讲出这事。 - They had the advantage of playing before their home crowd.
他们有在主场观众面前比赛的优势。
- He was brought before the judge.
- (formal) used to say how somebody reacts when they have to face somebody/something
（表示面对某人、某事时的反应） - They retreated before the enemy.
面对敌人，他们撤退了。
- They retreated before the enemy.
词源Old English beforan (see by, fore), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.